UCEA Convention 2012 - General Session V: Allan Walker, Penn State Mitstifer Lecture

GENERAL SESSION V: PENN STATE MITSTIFER LECTURE

Welcome and Introductions:

Susan Korach, University of Denver (Host)

Pennsylvania State University Mitstifer Lecture:

Dr. Allan Walker, Hong Kong Institute of Education

Introduced by Ed Fuller, Pennsylvania State University

The Leaders We Want? Clones, Drones, and Dragons: This talk examines a number of key issues around successful school leadership and leader development in the Asia Pacific region. Three metaphors are used to

frame, track and analyze recent research and commentary in the area – these are clones, drones and dragons. The metaphors provide a useful way to examine the evolution, development and ongoing uncertainties which continue to plague our attempts to understand and prepare successful leaders. Clones duplicate what others think they know about successful leadership. Drones are controlled ‘from-afar’ by centralized authorities or other ‘outsiders’. Dragons take organic forms which can mutate in terms of shape, color and form in line with

more localized needs. As such, they aim to nurture leaders who lead change successfully within their communities with reference to but not dictated by standardized knowledge. Issues flowing from interactions between these categories form a set of questions or tensions faced by systems and leaders across the region.